What's In A Name?

Support Assembly Bill 82, which would authorize the use of diacritical marks on vital records, like birth certificates or marriage certificates. A name contains history, heritage, and identity, and Californians should be able to choose one without the government’s interference.

Please sign the support letter for California to provide this fundamental right to its residents.
The need for this bill is best demonstrated by you.

Letter of Support for AB 82:

Dear Assemblymember Medina,

I am writing in strong support of AB 82 (Medina), which would allow the use of diacritical marks on vital records.

Not all states omit diacritical marks in their records. Alaska, Delaware, Illinois, and Maryland all allow for accurate notation of names. California, as one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse states in the nation, should grant its residents the choice to retain their identity and heritage on vital documents. The fact is, the word resume is not the same as résumé. So why don’t we recognize that a diacritical mark can fundamentally change a name too?

By allowing vital records to include diacritical marks, AB 82 will allow families to preserve their heritage for the next generation without government interference. For these reasons, I am in strong support of AB 890.